Compressor-controlling mechanism



J. OLIPHANT v COMPRESSOR CONTROLLING MECHANISM "J 2 9 1 7 2. w F.

2 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed Oct Z0, 7 1916 Feb. 27, 1923. Re. 15,551

\ J. OLIPHANT 5 COMPRES SOR CONTROLLING MECHANI SM Original Filed Oct.20, 1916 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Reiesued Feb. 27, 1923.

UNITED" STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN OLIPEANT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SUI LIVAN MACHINERYCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAS SACEUSETTS.

COMPRESSOR-CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Original No.1,375,656, dated April 19, 1921, Serial No. 126,793, filedOctober 20, 191 6. Benewed August 13, 1920, Serial No. 403,299.Application for reissue filed December 20, 1922. Serial 1T0. 608,066.

T all whom it may concern:

compressor drivin elementor elements be- Be it known that I, JOHNOLIPHANT, a ing omitted to facilitate illustration.

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Compressor-Controllin Mechanisms, of which the following is a fullclear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to compressor controlling mechanism.

It has for its objectto provide improved means for controllingtheloading and unloading of a compressor. Another object of my invention isto" provide an improved fluid operated pumping system for material influid form wherein the pumping fluid issupplied by a compressor and theoperation of the system is controlled by means whereby the materialpumped controls the loading and unloading of said compressor. A furtherobject of my invention is to provide improved means whereby a compressorused in connection with an air-lift or other system of pumping materialin fluid form,

may be automatically unloaded or loaded to maintain a constant level ofthe fluid pumped. A still further object of my invention is to providean improved controlling mechanism for compressors whereby a plurality ofthe same may be controlled and used in such a manner that they will beautomatically unloaded-in sequence, as, for instance, when the materialpumped reaches predetermined levels, or automatically loaded insequence, as, for instance, when thesame falls below predeterminedlevels.

These and other objects of my invention will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have, for purposes of illustration, showntwo embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, illustratingthe same as applied to an air-lift system for pumping liquid.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, ofa single unit constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the 'unloader controlling valvethereof.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a. plurality of units such as shown inFig. 1, connected together in the form of a system, the

ing a horizontal low pressure cylinder 4 and a vertical high pressurecylinder 5. This compressor receives air from a suitable inlet- 6 anddelivers the same from its low pressure cylinder 4-. to an inter-cooler7 which communicates with the high pressure cylinder in a well-knownmanner, the latter in turn delivering the air to a receiver 8. Al shown,an unloader valve 9, which may be of any well-known construction, isalso provided in the inlet so that when desired the compressor may beunloaded 0r loaded by operation thereof. I

In my improved construction, the pressure fluid in the receiver 8 isconducted through a pipe 10 to a down delivery pipe 11 of an air-liftpump, the pipe in turn discharging into a foot piece 12 of that pump insuch a manner as to force the liquid in the well 13 up through a pipe 14and into a reservoir 15. From this reservoir 15 the liquid is con ductedthrough a pipe 16 to a. riser 17 preferably located adjacent thecompressor and cover 20 of, the riser, and is provided upon its upperend with a knife edge 21 engageable with the. free end of a lever 22.This lever, as shown, preferably carries a weight 23 andis pivoted atits opposite end at 24 on the upper end of a short upstanding link 25which is in turn pivoted at its lower end at26 to a suitable support 27which may, if desired. form a part of the riser cover. Controlled bythis lever 22 and movable in a suitable chamber in thesupport 27 is'areciprocable valve member 28 having an annular flange 29. intermediateits ends and one end 30 adapted to seat in a recess 31 near the pivot 24of the lever 22 and its other end 32 adapted to seat inand close a lowerport 33 communicatin through a pipe 34 with the receiver 8. he'fiange291is adapted when raised to close" an escape vent along the stem 28. Asshown, a plpe 35 1s also connected between the chamber of the valvesprings 37 and depress the piston 38' and the unloader valve stem 39connected thereto. to close the unloader valve.

In the operation of the construction shown in Fig. 1, it :will beobvious that when the compressor, through the mediunr of the air-liftmechanism, has'caused the liquid to rise to a predetermined height in.-

the reservoir -1 5, the fi'oat 18 .in'the riser 17 will be raisedin'sucha manner as ,to lift the rod 19 thereof and lift the lever; 22about its pivot. Thiswill release the" valve 28 so that the receiverpressure, j 'acting through the pipe 34, will be suflicient to liftthatvalve from its seat over'the mouth of the port 33 and therebyopencommunication between the receiver and the piston chamber 36 in-such amanner as to cause the unloader valve 9' to be closed and the compressorto be unloaded. It will also "be obvious that, conversely,when the levelof J the liquid in the reservoir 15 falls below a predetermined amount,'the fioat '18 will drop and thereby operate the lever 22 and valve28 toclose the communication between the receiver 8. and the unloading valvepiston chamber 36 above described, whereuponthrough the action ofthesprings 37 the unloader valve willfbe opened and the com;

pressor again loaded the air above the pis ton 38 escaping past the stem28. It will thus be seen that I have provided an improved pumping systemof. the type utilizas a pumping medium wherein the level of the materialpumped in a reservoir associated with the system controls-the unloadingand reloading of a compressor which supplies the pumping fluid.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 it will be noted that a plurality ofunits of the construction shown in Fig. 1., are illustrated in tandem,the same beingindicated at A, B, C, and D and preferably being connectedto the same intake main, 40. In this system, it will also'be noted thata single reservoir 41 may be used, though this is not imperative, thesystem being adapted to use with separate reservoirs when desired.

As shown herein, a single reservoirtap or pipe 42 may also be connectedwith a single longitudinally. disposed pipe or main 43 which is in turnconnected to the several units through a series of branch pipes 44 witha series of. risers 45. Inftheserisers ar carried floats 46, 47, 48 and49. which operator are connected to the unloader valves throughmechanism of the same construc-' -tion as that hereinaboie described indetail in' connection with the construction shown in Fig. 1 so that itis unnecessary-here to repeat the description thereof. However, it willbernoted that in this, construction these floats 46, (i7, 48 and 4 9;are"aizranged eat .diierent levelsl'so that, as thefiuid level rises inthe. reservoir 41. these floats iare raised. insequence in suchv amanner as to unload their-compressors progressively as thereservoir isfilled or toload the same as the reservoir isemptied.

being 11 anism then operating progressively to cut in' or Out theseveralcompressors .in a definite sequence as the "liquid level varies.

These and other advantages of improved construction will, however, beclearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

This is a r eissue' application based on Letters Pate nt -No. 1,375,656,granted April 19,1921.

2 While I have in this application specifi cally described twoembodiments which my inventlon may assume in practice, it will of coursebe understoodthat these forms of out in any manner departing from thespirit of the invention, it being my intenioo the same may beextensively modified witht1on to include all such modifications within vthe scope of the appended claims.

lVhat' I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. In an unloading apparatus, the combis nation comprising a compressor,a pump connected therewith, a reservoir receiving material from saidpump, and means controlled by the level of the'material in saidreservoir forunloading said compressor.

2. In a loading apparatus, the combination comprising a compressor, apump connected therewith, a reservoir recelvlng material from said pump,and means controlled by the level of the material in said reservoir for.loading said compressor.

3. Inan unloading apparatus, the combination comprislng a compressor, apump connected therewith, a reservoir 'ieceiving material flOIIl Sflldpump, and means responsive to variatlons ln level of the material insaid" reservoir for successively loading and unloading said compressor.

4, In an unloading apparatus, the combinat on comprising a compressor, apump connected therewith, an unloading valve "controlling said comressor, a reservoir re- [operating said unloadervalve, and means ceivingthe material elivered by said pump,

and means responsive to variations in level of the material'in saidreservoir controlling said unloadin valve.

5. In combination, a compressor, a pump connected therewith, a reservoirrecewing the material delivered by said pump, an unloader valve for saidcompressor,-means'for res onsive to variations in level of thematerial-in said reservoir controllingsaid last mentioned means.

6. In combination, a compressor, a re.- ceiver connected therewith, apump connected to saidreceiver, a reservoirinto :whiic'h said pumpdelivers, a compressor unloader valve controllable by receiver premu're,and controlling means therefor responsive to variations in level of thematerial in said reservoir.

7.. In combination, 'a compressor, a receiverconnected therewith, a pumpconnectedto said receiver, a reservoirreceiving the material pumped, ariserconnected'with said reservoir, a float in said riser, an unloadervalve for said compressor, and means loader valv p 8. In combination, acompressor, a pump connected therewith, a reservoir receiving thematerial delivered by said pump, a riser connected with said reservoir,an unloader controlled by said float controlling said -unvalve for saidcompressor, and means re- 3'5 the material delivered by said pump, afloat carried in said riser, an unloader valve for said compressor,means controlling said um loader valve. and operative connections between said float and said; controlling means.

10. In a fluid pumping systeimithe combination comprising a, pluralityvof compressors, pumping mechanism connected therewith, means forreceiving the fluid pumped by said mechanism, and means controlled bythe level of the fluid in said receiving means for unloadingsaidcompressors.

11. In a fluid pumping'system, the combination comprising a plurality ofcompressors, pumping mechanism connected therewith, means for receivingthe material pumped by said mechanism. and means controlled by thelevelof the fluid in said receiving means for progressively unloadingsaid compressors 12. In a fluid pumping svstem. thecombination-comprising a plurality of compressors, pumping mechanismconnected therewith, means 7 for receiving the material bumped by saidmechanism, and means conceiving means for progressively unloading saidcompressors andsubsequently loading thesame.

' 13. In a fluid pumping system, the combination comprising a pluralityof com- ;pressors, pumping mechanism connected therewith, means forreceiving the material pumped by said mechanism, and, means controlledby the level of the fluid in said receiving means for progressivelyunloading said compressors andsubsequently loading ,sors, a pluralitypfpumps connected therewith. a reservoir receiving the material pumped, asingle tap communicating with said reservoir, a single maincommunicating with said tap, a plurality of risers connected with saidmain, unloader valves for said compressors, and means controlled by thevariation in level of the fluid in said risers for operating saidunloader valves.

16. In a fluid/pumping system. the combination comprising a plurality ofcompressors,'a plurality of pumps connected therewith, a reservoirreceiving the material pumped, a single tap communicating with saidreservoir, a single main communicating with said tap, a plurality ofrisers connected with said main, unloading valves for said compressors,and means controlled by the variation in level of the fluid in saidrisers for ope-rating said unloader valves in sequence.

4 17. In a fluid pumping system. thefcombination comprising a pluralityof compressors, a plurality-of pumps connected there- -with, a reservoirreceiving the material pumped, a single tap'communicating with 'saidreservoir, a single main communicating with saidtap, a plurality ofrisers connected with said main, unloader valves for said compressors,and means controlled by the variation in level of thefluid in saidrisers for suocessively actuating said valves to load or unload saidcompressors.

18. In a pumping system, in combination, a compressor, a receiverconnected therewith, pumping mechanism connected with said receiver andoperated by fluid pressure therefrom, a reservoir receiving materialdelivered by said pump, and means cont-rolled 5 trolledby-the 1evel.0ffthe'fluid,in' res by thelevel or the material in said reservoir forloading and unloading said compressor.

19. In a pumping system, in combination, a compressor, a receiverconnected therewith, pumping mechanism connected with said receiver andoperated by fluid pressure therefrom, said pumping mechanism drawingmaterial from a source independent. of said receiver, areservoirseparate from said receiver and receiving material delivered by saidpump, and means controlled by the level of thematerial'in said-reservoirfor loading and. unloading said compressor.

20. In a fluid'pumplng' system, in combination, a pluralityof-compressors, one or more receivers connected therewith, pumpingmechanism operated by fluid pressure from said receivers, means forreceiving the fluid delivered by said mechanism, and

means controlled by the level of the fluid in said last named receivingmeans for loadreservoir for receiving the material fromsaid units, andmeans operative at different stages of filling of said reservoir forcontro ling the flow of fluid from said source to said units in such amanner that all the units are operated at the lowest stage and a part ofthe units at the highest stage.

23. In a pumping system, a plurality of air lift pumping means, areservoir to receive the material from said pumping means, and meanssuccessively controlled by the level of material in said reservoir forcontrolling the flow of operating fluid to said pumpingjmeans to operatethe latter.

24. In a pumping system, a plurality of pumping means, a reservoir toreceive the material from said pumping means, and automaticallyoperating means controlled by the level of material in said reservoirfor'to which i said pump transfers material,

means operative to load or unload said compressor, and means controlledby the level of the material in said reservoir for controlling thoperation of said first mentioned means.

26. In a pumping system, the combination with a pumping mechanism formoving liquid by the action of a fluid pumping medium, a compressor forsupplying such fluid pumping medium, and loading and unloading mechanismoperative in different positions respectively to cause said compressorto supply said fluid pumping medium and to interrupt the pumping of saidmedium thereby, of means controlled by the liquid and controlling saidloading and unloading mechanism and, causing movements thereof to itssaid different positions. 27. In combination, a pumping system formaterial infiuid form comprising an air lift pump, a compressor, fluidsupply connections between said compressor and said air lift pumpwhereby said compressor supplies the pump with'a pumping medium,unloading means for said compressor, and controlling means for saidunloading means operative to effect control thereof in accordance withvariations in the level of said material at a point within said system.

28. In a pumping system, a plurality of pumping means each lncluding acompres sor and liquid pumping means operated by! fluid from saidcompressor, reservoir means relative to which said pumping means arearranged to transfer liquid, and separate compressor loading andunloading means controlled by the level of liquid in said reservoirmeans each respectively controlling the flow of operating fluid to oneof said pumping means to operate the latter.

In testimony whereof I aflix no signature.

JOHN OLI HANT.

